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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'. W. S. DUVALL. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

Patented NovflZ, 1889.

Wzifies/s as:

N. PETERS. Pmmumn her. Wasmn'gtuil. n. c,

(No Model.) 2 sheets-sheep 2.

W. S. DUVALL. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 415,099. A Patented Nov. 12, 1889.

UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

XYILLIAM S. DUVALL, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No; 415,099, dated November 12, 1889.

Application filed August 3, 1889. Serial No. 319,618. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. D'UVALL, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at WVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a description.

This invention has relation to store-service apparatus, and more particularly to the means for propelling the carriage or car upon the track.

The main object of the invention is to so arrange propelling mediums that they will exert direct force for propulsion only at the time the carriage or car is at the starting-point, and so that previous to reaching that point the propelling mediums will merely move the carriage to that point and not change its point of contact upon the carriage, and while said mediums are so moving to be gathering and multiplying tension to be released and-expended in the act of throwing the carriage from the time it leaves the starting-point.

WVith these general objects in view my invention primarily consists in a track, a standard and supporting-arms, said arms extending to opposite sides of the track, a car or carriage mounted for movement upon the track and between the supporting-arms, and in oppositely-vibrating arms mount-ed on the supporting-arms provided with contact-surfaces at their free ends designed to conjointly bind upon the sides of the car or carriage, and in mechanism for throwingthe arms for the propulsion of the carriageon the track; also, in mounting the levers in such a manner as not only to vibrate, but to reciprocate, for the purpose of following the carriage in a line with the track in the act of throwing, whereby the swinging or vibrating action used to bring the car to the starting-point merges into a reciprocating push or shove after leaving the said point.

The invention further consists in the provision of cords for operating the vibrating arms, in connecting the same to the outer ends of said arms, whereby the first or primary pull upon the cords acts to inwardly draw the reciprocating and vibrating arms a short distance to take contact with the car at opposite points, and, further, to slowly advance the car to the starting-point and to bring the arms directly in line with each other,

' forcing them to recede, and thus decrease the construction and combination of 'novel parts,-

hereinafter referred to, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a support, a track-wire, a car, and vibrating propelling-arms constructed in accordance with my invention, the arms and car being illustrated by full lines in the relative position they occupy after the initial or primary pull upon the starting-cord and by dotted lines their relative position at the starting-point and after leaving the same.- Fig. 2 is a side elevation; Fig. 3, a front end elevation.

Figs. 4 and 5 are details in side elevations of modified constructions of cars.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

, In practicing my invention I prefer to employ the well-knowii hollow supporting-standards 1, braced in the usual manner, and to which are adj ust'ably or otherwise connected the terminals of the track-wire 2'. y

In the preferred manner of mounting my vibrating arms I employ a support 3, the only essentiality of the same being thatit comprises in its make-up a pair of divergent station-arms 4:. l have herein shown one form of support which I deem best adapted for the purposes in View, and the same is merely a U-shaped casting, the terminals of the U forming the support-arm 4, and being slightly curved outwardly at their ends and terminating in bifurcations 5, forming vertically-opposite bearing-plates 6, centrally perforated in line with each other, as at 7, and provided with vertical bearing-pins 8, threaded or 0therwise secured therein. casting there is formed a sleeve 12, of a di- At the rear of the ameter sufficient to receive the lower end of the standard 1, to which itis adjustably secured by a set-nut 13. Upon each of the supporting-arms, within its bifurcation, is mounted a horizontally vibrating and reciprocating propelling-arm 9, said arms being longitudinally slotted near their centers, as at 10, for the reception of the bearing-pins 8 of the supporting-arms. The inneror adjacent working ends of these arms 9 in this instance terminate in small disks 11, centrally perforated and provided with means for limiting the movement of the shoes, such as a stoppin 14, projecting from their upper faces from one side of their central perforations.

17 represents friction gripping-shoes, and their gripping or friction surfaces are in this instance slightly rounded, but may be perfectly fiat, and are preferably provided with leather, rubber, or other friction-producing facings or surfaces 18. These shoes are provided upon their rear faces with oppositelyarranged perforated ears or lugs 19, through the perforations of which and the small perforated disks are inserted a bearing-pin 20.

The upper one of each pair of perforated lugs or ears 19 is slightly recessed, as at 21, at its edge to receive the stop-pin on the disk, so that the swinging movement of the shoes upon the arms is limited by the ends of recesses abutting against the pins.

For a purpose hereinafter obvious, I prefer that the vibrating arms terminate in rearwardly-curved portions 22, and in each, near its end, to form an ey 23,said eye, by reason of the curving or offsetting, being out of the longitudinal line drawn through the center of its vibrating arm. In the eye of each vibrating arm is connected the terminal of a pulling or operating cord 24, each cord passing to the rear and through the openings 25 in the standard and over small pulleys 26, mounted within the standard upon oppositelydisposed bearing-shafts 27, and down through the end of the hollow standard, which is open, as at 28, and terminating in a handle 29,suspended within easy grasp of an operator.

30 represents a cash car or carriage, and the same consists in this instance of a connecting-bar 31, opposite casters or grooved wheels 32, and an intermediate cash-receptaele hanger 33, having an eye 34, said eye permitting the passage of the track-wire and having its lower edge arranged in such close proximity to the wheels and track-wire as to preventthe car from leaving the track. I prefer to form the connecting-bar in the shape of a flat blade, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3; but such is not at all necessary, as I may employ a simple round longitudinal bar, as 35, Fi 5, adapted to be gripped by the vibrating arms; or I may provide such a bar with npwardly-projecting plates, as 36, Fig. 4, or, again, with simple vertical pins, as 37, Fig. 4, the connecting-bar being long or short, as most desired, and in no way affecting the operativeness of my vibrating arms, as the same practically never change their points of contact after once being brought to the gripping position, as hereinafter explained, whereby I may employ a long or short ear and avoid any slipping and waste of power in starting, as would be the case if I changed contact.

I provide means for limitingthe movement of the arms, as follows: From each of the vibrating arms there depends a headed lug or pin 38, and connecting said lugs or pins is a connecting link or bar 39, provided near its opposite ends with longitudinal slots 40 for the reception of the lugs or pins. The connecting-bar of the car, as before stated, is provided with a depending cash-cup receiving and supporting hanger. Thishanger is provided in this instance with the usual socket 41, having a bayonet-slot, and inserted in the socket is the cash-cup 42, the pin of which enters the bayonet-slot, and is consequently locked against accidental withdrawal.

By the great amount of power the vibrating arms are capable of exerting my invention is equally applicable for the transmission of parcel-baskets, the only change being a proper proportioning of the arms and slots and a relative proportion of their supports.

It is thought that the operation will be readily understood from theforegoing description; but in order to avoid mistake I will briefly restate the same. To start the car, the handle or pull is drawn downward and the vibra tory arms are brought inward until the two shoes grip or come in opposite contact with the connecting-bar or other desired convenient portion of the car, the outer ends ofthe slots of the arms at this time being at the bearing-pin, or very near thereto, in accordance with the length of the slots. Thus it will be apparent that the first and Weakest portion of the pull will merely be employed to bring the shoes in contact with the car. The pull, being continued, begins to draw the outer curved ends to the rear and advance the front or innerendsin line with the track, and the carriage to what in realityis the startingpoint. (See dotted lines, Fig. 1.) As the arms advance to this pointtheir fulcrums are constantly changing until, when they come into line with each other at the starting-point, the inner ends of the slots are adjacent to the bearing-pins and the rear portions of the arms are elongated in rear of their fulcrum, thus providing a longleverage just prior to the act of sending the car and at the time the most power is necessary. It will also be noticed that as the arms recede to permit of being brought into line with each other they olfer resistance to the draft of the cords, thus serving to place the cords under considerable tension, so that a continuous pull exerts that tension upon the vibrating arms as they pass out of line with each other, the vibrating arms sliding or reciprocating along in the direction of the movement and with the car, and not releasing the same until at the end of their throw, which is limited by the outer end of their slots of the principal parts of the apparatus are of metal, and consequently there is very little wear and breakage. It is also apparent that the principal elements composing the supporting devices and propelling means may be readily cast and assembled without any considerable amount of hand-finishing.

Numerous modifications in the details of my invention will readily suggest themselves topersons conversant with this classof inventions, and I would herein state that I do not limit my invention as regards details, but herein show and describe only my preferred construction. 4

Having described my invention and its operation, what I claim is V 1. The combination, with a track, a support arranged at each side of the same, and a car, of opposite arms pivoted upon the supports and adapted for contactwith the car, and means for vibrating said arms for giving an impetus to the car, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a track, a support arranged at each side of the .track, and a car mounted upon the track, of opposite arms pivoted to the supports at each side of the track adapted .to take opposite end contact with the car, and means for operating the arms, substantially as specified,

3. The combination, with a track, supports at opposite sides of the same, and a car mounted on the track, of opposite arms loosely pivoted upon the supportsand adapted for contact with the car, and means for reciprocating said arms, substantially as specified.

4. The combination, with'supports, a track, and a car, of. opposite vibratory arms mounted on the supports, and shoes pivoted to the inner ends of the arms and adapted for surface contact with the car, and means for operating the arms, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of supports, a track, a car mounted thereon, and oppositely-located pivotal vibratory and reciprocatory arms, gripping-shoes mounted on the inner ends of the arms, and means for operating the arms, substantially as specified.

6. The combination, with a track, a support at each side thereof, and a car, of opposite vibratory arms pivoted to the supports at each side of the track, the inner ends of the arms being adapted for contact with the car, and operating-cords connected to the outer ends posite car-throwing vibratory arms independently pivoted atthe opposite ends of the sup ports and oppositely disposed with relation to each other, and means for limiting the separation of the arms, substantially as specified.

8. The combination, with supporting-arms, of a track arranged midway the same, propelling-arms independently pivoted on the opposite terminals of the supporting-arms, a car mounted upon the track and adapted to be propelled by the arms, and cords for op-, erating the arms, substantially as specified.

9. The combination, with the supports and opposite and independently-pivoted vibratory arms, of means for vibrating the arms and a link connected to the arms for limiting their vibrations, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, with supports, of opposite vibratory arms mounted thereon, provided with depending pins and adapted to propel a car, and a link slotted atits outer ends for the reception of the pins andserving to limit the vibrations of the arms, substantially as specified.

11. The combination, with the supports, a

track, and a car, of opposite reciprocatory and vibratory arms, the outer terminals of which are slotted and offset out of line with the pivot of the arms, cords attached to the ends of the offset portions, and guides for the cords, whereby a primary pull tends to reciprocate the arms to grip the car, and a further pull'to swing the arms into line with each other, and further to longitudinally reciprocate them, substantially as specified.

12. The combination, with opposite supporting-arms having bearing-pins near their ends, a track between the arms, and a car thereon, of slotted arms adapted to vibrate and reciprocate upon the pins for the purpose of taking contact with and throwing the car, and'means for operating the arms, substantially as specified.

13. The combination of supporting-arms terminating in bifurcations forming upper i and lower bearing plates, bearing pins pivotally mounted on the terminals of the.

supporting-arm, and operating-cords connected to the outer ends of the arms and passing through the openings in the standard and emergingat the bottom thereof and terminating in a hand-pull, substantially as specified.

15. The combination, with a hollow standard provided with openings at each side thereof, of oppositely-disposed shafts mounted therein, pulleys mounted on the shafts, supports mounted on the standard, vibratory reciprocal arms mounted on the terminals of the supports, and cords connected to the outer ends of the arms passing through the openings over the pulleys and emerging at the bottom of the standard and terminating in a hand-pull, substantially as specified.

16. The combination, with the pivotal reciprocatory arms, of frictional gripping-shoes mounted at the inner ends of the arms, and means for limiting the movements of the shoes, substantially as specified.

17. The combination, with the pivotal reciprocatory arms terminating in perforated disks, of friction-shoes having opposite rearwardly-disposed perforated ears or lugs registering with the perforations in the disks, bearing-pins inserted through the perforations in the disks and ears, a pin projecting from each of the disks, and grooves formed in the ears, the ends of the grooves abutting against the pins and limiting the oscillations of the shoes, substantially as specified.

18. The combination, with supports, a track thereinbetween, and a car on the track provided with a connecting-bar, of oppositelylocated vibratory.reciproeatory arms terminating in friction-shoes adapted to grip the bar, and means for oscillating the arms, substantially as specified.

19. The combination of a car provided at each end with a contact-plate and an intermediate bar connecting said plates with opposjte pivoted propelling-arms terminating in friction-surfaces adapted to grip the adjacent one of the plates, a track for supporting the car, supports for the arms, and means for swinging the arms, substantially as specified.

WILLIAM S. DUV ALL. Witnesses:

WM. BAGGER, SCHUYLER DURYEE. 

